Help an SFister Land That Sonoma Wine Job
News of Sonoma County’s “Really Goode Job” first hit SFGate on April 28. Since then, hopefuls coveting the $10,000/month, half-year gig for Murphy-Goode have been applying online and uploading videos for consideration for the position. While most of the applicants are from out of state, one of the very few (thus far) Bay Area applicants is SFist contributor Deborah N . While we are, of course, ecstatic of the idea of one of our own winning the grand prize, (yet sad and depressed at the thought of her moving to an albeit free and glamorous house in Healdsburg for six month), we are curious about Deborah’s motivation for applying for the position. (Aside from the fact that we want an SFister to land this oddly, at least according to many MSM outlets, newsworthy job)
While Deborah is more qualified than most -- as one of the leading contributors to the now defunct nomerlot.com, a quoted expert on winemaker and distributor websites, a known wine liaison for weddings and celebrations, and, ahem, an SFist contributor -- Deborah seems bittersweet about the position and her application.
I was very excited about the position when I first heard about it. I found out about it when a few friends emailed and told me I would be perfect for the job. So, I filled out the application online and uploaded a video that I felt very confident about. Then I saw that the employer was beginning to pick favorites on YouTube. This kinda raised a red flag for me, and I began to wonder if Murphy-Goode was really looking for what they were claiming to look for.
It seems that the two men Muphy-Goode (prematurely) favorited on YouTube did not follow all of the instructions for the video. While the videos are well-produced (unlike Deborah’s, which is a simple laptop straight-on shot), both men fail to demonstrate any knowledge of Murphy-Goode wines or the Sonoma County area, something that Deborah nailed in her video, which, by the way, is the most-viewed application video on YouTube despite Murphy-Goodes’ favorites. This gaff is most likely due to both men being East-Coasters. But when applicant Kurt of Kill Devils Hill, NC calls terroir “terrier,” one does have to question who Murphy-Goode is looking for and if their criteria is realistic and/or true.
When asked why she wants the job, Deborah responded:
I think it’s important for women to have more of a presence in the wine industry. Who are the big wine names you first think of? Robert Parker, Robert Mondavi, Kermit Lynch, Bruce Cass. There are so many amazing female winemakers, experts, and fans out there and it seems like they don’t have a voice. If I am deemed unfit for this position, I do hope it goes to a qualified woman and not to the same stereotypical dude that you always see rambling on about cabernet and cigars.
Since four out of five of the most viewed videos for the position are women, it looks like Deborah may get her wish. To vote for Deborah or any other of your favorites, go here.